Holder: U.S. A 'Nation Of Cowards' On Race Discussions

[tekisui]

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a blunt assessment of race relations in the United States, Attorney General Eric Holder Wednesday called the American people "essentially a nation of cowards" in failing to openly discuss the issue of race.

Eric Holder spoke to an overflowing crowd for Black History Month at the Justice Department Wednesday.

In his first major speech since being confirmed, the nation's first black attorney general told an overflow crowd celebrating Black History Month at the Justice Department the nation remains "voluntarily socially segregated."

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Holder declared.

Holder urged Americans of all races to use Black History Month as a time to have a forthright national conversation between blacks and whites to discuss aspects of race which are ignored because they are uncomfortable.

The attorney general said employees across the country "have done a pretty good job in melding the races in the workplace," but he noted that "certain subjects are off limits and that to explore them risks at best embarrassment and at worst the questioning of one's character." Video Watch Holder talk about race »

"On Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not, in some ways, differ significantly from the country that existed some 50 years ago. This is truly sad," Holder said.

Following his address, Holder declined to say whether his unexpectedly stern message would be translated into policy.

more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/18/holder.race.relations/

[thunder rising]

1. Capricious enforcement of the law has been the greatest deterrence to race relations

Mr Holder, enforce the law and prosecute the criminals that just vacated the DOJ and then watch what happens. Maybe we'll feel like we are a nation of one people instead of "us and them" or more like "us vs them".